The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-10-26
KNIGHTS or LABOR.
Mr.. Powderly's Annual Report at
the General Assembly.


The annual report of Grand Master Work
man Powderly at the General Assembly Of
she knights of Labor in Minneapolis was
read in presence of 225 delegates from all
parts of the country. Mr.. Powderly said:
"The members of the Central Assembly,
the highest tribunal known to the laws and
regulations, as well as to the true and loyal
members of the Order of the Knights
of Labor, is convened for the
eleventh time in regular session. I
am to make to the representatives as.
sembled the annual report for the eighth
time. ask that it will receive that con-
sideration at your hands which its merits
deserve, and that such recommendations as l
may make will be received and acted on &C
cording to their Importance and necessity.
"When the last session Of the General
Assembly closed, it dissolved amid the clamor
of disappointed men. 1t was q large and
unweidly body. This body is smaller
than its predecessor, and l expect better
things at its hands. We adjourned a
year ago with dissension in our ranks;
and scattered to the world by enemies from
within and without. Employers of labor in
many instances took advantage of what they
mistook for our weakness and rushed into
conflict with our members in various parts OF
the country"
Mr.. Powderly then gave detailed account
of the relations of the Knights to the big
strike in Chicago. With regard to the
founded Socialism with Anarchy. draw
wide line Of distinction between
the two. I have never publicly uttered
sentiment regarding the course OF
the seven men who are condemned to death
in Chicago will now give my opinion.
If these men did not have q fair trial,
such as is guaranteed every man in the
United States, then they should be granted
new trial. If they have not been found
guilty of murder they should not be
hanged. If they are to be hanged for
who threw the bomb in Chicago should be
hanged, and his accomplices should receive
the punishment allotted to such offences by
the laws of the State of Illinois,"
~ believe the day has come for the Knights
of Labor to ask, at the hands of Congress,
the passage of law creating department
of labor at Washington. The prosperity OF
the whole country rests on the shoulders OF
labor, and there is nothing now so proml-
nently before the nation and the world as
the question of labor.
'I recommend that steps be taken to have
the next Congress act on bill of Govern
mental telegraphy to be run in connection
with the postal service. We should 60 before
the next Congress asking for the passage Of
but one or two measures. They should be
important ones, and the full strength Of the
organization should be behind those who
make the demand"
Mr. Powderly said O newspaper should be
published under control Of the order which
should reach every member. He advised
that distressed members receive in
the order the relief they get from other
organizations. With regard to his con-
nection with socialism he said:
In 1880 Philip Van Patten, the National
Secretary of the Socialistic Labor Party, was
member of the General Executive Board Of
the Knights of Labor. / became very inti-
mate with him, and we discussed the various
measures of reform which all men in the
movement regarded as Of Importance. He
sent me red card of membership in August,
1850.
"The card was paid up by him for three
months. regard it as complimentary act
on the part of Van Patten. saw, however,
that the declaration Of principles OF
the Knights of Labor contained all
of socialism that 1 cared to advocate,
and l never took any action on the
card except to keep it as a memento of the
days when we were associated as officers or
this association. never cast a vote for the
candidates of that party, was never mem
ber of any Of its sections, and had no con-
nection with it except in the manner related
ehoven u